For Kids · 4 min with a grown-up
King David tries to be kind to a neighbor — but his kindness gets thrown right back in his face. What happens next teaches us how to be brave.
Today's Story
When a neighboring king died, David remembered that the king had once been kind to him. So David wanted to be kind right back. He sent friendly messengers to the king's son to say, “I'm so sorry your father died.”
But the young king listened to some bad advice. His advisors whispered, “Those messengers aren't really being nice. They're spies! They came to look around so they can attack us!”
So instead of saying thank you, the young king treated David's kind men terribly and sent them home embarrassed. That was unfair — and now there was going to be a battle.
David's army was led by a brave commander named Joab. When Joab saw enemies in front of him and behind him, he didn't panic. He split his soldiers into two groups so they could help each other. Then he gave them brave words:
“Be strong. Let's be brave for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in his eyes.”
Do you hear the two parts? Be brave — that was their job. Trust God for the rest — that was His. They did their part, and they left the outcome in God's good hands.
A Big Word
Memory Verse
Talk About It
- The young king listened to bad advice and was unkind to people who came to help. How can you tell good advice from bad advice?
- Joab said to be brave AND trust God. What is something you can be brave about this week, while trusting God with how it turns out?
- Being surrounded felt scary. What helps you feel braver when something feels too big for you?